FR Doc 04-18630
[Federal Register: August 13, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 156)]
[Notices]
[Page 50257-50260]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13au04-123]
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Part III
Department of Education
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Special Demonstration Programs--Model Demonstration Projects--Positive
Psychology; Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
RIN 1820-ZA35
Special Demonstration Programs--Model Demonstration Projects--
Positive Psychology
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of final priority, definitions, and application
requirements.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education
and Rehabilitative Services announces a priority, definitions, and
application requirements under the Special Demonstration Programs. The
Assistant Secretary may use this priority, definitions, and application
requirements for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2004 and later years.
We take this action to focus on an area of national need. We intend the
priority to improve the quality of employment outcomes for vocational
rehabilitation (VR) consumers through testing and measuring the effects
of three specific positive psychology techniques for use within State
VR agencies and American Indian VR Services (AIVRS) projects. The three
specific techniques are--learned optimism, strengths and virtues versus
talents for employment, and subjective well-being.
DATES: Effective Date: This priority, these definitions, and these
application requirements are effective September 13, 2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alfreda Reeves, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5040, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7485 or via Internet:
Alfreda.Reeves@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authority for these projects is title
III, section 303(b) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act)
(29 U.S.C. 773(b)) and 34 CFR part 373.
Positive psychology is the study and practice of counseling
techniques based on cognitive-behavioral therapy to assist individuals
to develop an increased awareness of their own positive character
strengths, emotional processing, and belief systems (Seligman &
Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). These techniques help consumers to build
skills so that they can accurately assess beliefs about themselves that
may create barriers to effectively coping with adversities that occur
in their lives. These techniques may also expand their ability to
challenge these beliefs in order to pursue flexible and appropriate
responses to their adversities. Positive psychology techniques empower
individuals to take control of their own lives, to increase their
capacity for effective decisionmaking, and to persist in pursuing goal-
directed activities.
Research in positive psychology has yielded a variety of approaches
to assist individuals to identify their own beliefs and actions that
are barriers to their ability to handle effectively life's adversities.
These approaches are based on the techniques of cognitive-behavioral
skills development and include models developed to change rigid and
pessimistic beliefs and cognitive constructs to more flexible and
positive ones. Major work in developing positive psychology approaches
has been reported by Martin Seligman (1991), Barbara Fredrickson
(2001), Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1997), Reivich & Shatte (2002), and
others. A review of the literature by the National Institute on
Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and use of the
PsychArticles research database revealed one reported application of
the principles of positive psychology to the employment outcomes of
individuals with disabilities (Chapin & Kewin, 2001). However, no
research literature was identified that applied these principles and
techniques to individuals with disabilities in VR settings. The overall
objective of the positive psychology priority is to develop and
demonstrate the validity of counseling tools and techniques based on
the principles of positive psychology with individuals with
disabilities in the VR system. The priority supports section 303(b) by
furthering the purposes of the Act, specifically empowering consumers
of VR by implementing techniques that will increase the skills of
individuals with disabilities, enabling them to achieve high quality
employment outcomes.
Successful projects under this model demonstration program would
address three specific aspects of positive psychology and their
application to rehabilitation--learned optimism, strengths and virtues
versus talents for employment, and subjective well-being.
We published a notice of proposed priority, definitions, and
application requirements for this program in the Federal Register on
May 26, 2004 (69 FR 30138). That notice included a discussion of the
significant issues and analysis used in the determination of the
priority, definitions, and application requirements.
Except for minor editorial and technical revisions, there are two
minor differences between the notice of proposed priority, definitions,
and application requirements and this final notice. These changes were
made to clarify the following:
1. Consumers served by AIVRS projects may be included in the test
population; and
2. The applicant must address all three positive psychology
techniques.
Analysis of Comments and Changes
In response to our invitation in the notice of proposed priority,
definitions, and application requirements, six parties submitted
comments. An analysis of the comments and of any changes in the
priority, definitions, and application requirements since publication
of the notice of proposed priority, definitions, and application
requirements follows.
Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes--and
suggested changes that we are not authorized to make under the
applicable statutory authority.
Comment: One commenter stated that the priority should require
applicants to specify how they will ensure adequate sampling of VR
consumers from minority backgrounds and underserved populations. The
commenter suggested that projects collaborate with the AIVRS projects
and community agencies that serve minority populations in order to
obtain sufficiently representative samples from these populations.
Discussion: The application selection criteria already require
applicants to describe how they will adequately address the needs of
individuals from minority backgrounds and underserved populations, if
these populations reside within the applicant's proposed service area.
The selection criteria specifically require the quality and sufficiency
of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for eligible
project participants who are members of groups that have traditionally
been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender,
age, or disability (34 CFR 75.210(d)(2)). In addition, we are
clarifying the fact that consumers of the AIVRS projects are eligible
participants in this priority.
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Change: The General Requirements for Applicants section has been
changed to reflect that consumers of AIVRS projects may be part of the
test population.
Comments: Three commenters suggested that the priority include the
study of additional factors that create or reduce barriers to
individuals with disabilities in obtaining employment, including
environmental, community, peer, cultural, spiritual, and service
provider characteristic factors.
Discussion: We agree that a variety of factors have an impact on
the employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities. However, this
priority is intended only to demonstrate the effectiveness of the
specific positive psychology factors defined within the notice.
Change: None.
Comments: Two commenters stated that the techniques of positive
psychology are not distinct from other techniques used within the
broader theoretical area of cognitive-behavioral psychology and that
the priority should be expanded to include other techniques and
interventions.
Discussion: We agree that the specific intervention areas defined
in the priority can be considered within the context of cognitive-
behavioral techniques. However, positive psychology focuses on
developing consumers' positive attributes rather than on remediating
areas of deficit. Not all cognitive-behavioral techniques have this
focus. The American Psychological Association determined that positive
psychology is a field of practice distinct enough to warrant its own
division within the association. No research literature has been
identified that applied these principles and techniques to individuals
with disabilities in VR settings. Therefore, the purpose of the
priority is to test these particular techniques in the VR settings.
Change: None.
Comment: One commenter suggested that the subjective well-being
(SWB) topic area be dropped from the priority because SWB is an overall
outcome of most positive psychology approaches rather than a distinct
objective of its own.
Discussion: We agree that SWB is an anticipated outcome of most
positive psychology interventions. However, improvements in the area of
SWB can be demonstrated as a part of outcome measurements for the other
stipulated focus areas, i.e., learned optimism and strengths and
virtues interventions. Nothing in the priority requires that SWB be a
solitary outcome.
Change: None.
Comment: One commenter suggested that the priority include the
option of using a research approach that would compare each individual
intervention approach outcome to the outcomes resulting from combining
approaches.
Discussion: The selection of the research and demonstration method
is determined by applicants and included in their applications
submitted for review. The priority does not impose limitations on the
proposed research other than requiring that proposed activities focus
on the defined areas of learned optimism, strengths and virtues versus
talents for employment, and SWB. Applicants may include a combined
approach if desired.
Change: None.
Comment: One commenter stated that the priority should stipulate
whether applicants can choose to focus on one subpopulation of
individuals with disabilities or if participants must represent cross-
disability populations.
Discussion: The priority does not stipulate the selection of
participants for the project other than that participants must be
individuals with disabilities served by the State VR agencies or AIVRS
projects. Applicants may select their project participants as part of
their overall project design.
Change: None.
Comment: One commenter stated that the priority should stipulate
whether applicants must address all three aspects of positive
psychology listed in the notice and suggested that the language in the
General Requirements for Applicants section, concerning adapting,
testing, and measuring the impact of the three positive psychology
strategies, is unclear.
Discussion: We agree that there should be clarity in whether the
priority addresses all three techniques of positive psychology listed
in the notice.
Change: The General Requirements for Applicants section has been
changed to reflect that projects must test and measure the effects of
all three techniques identified in the priority.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use this priority, definitions, and application
requirements, we invite applications through a notice in the Federal
Register. When inviting applications we designate the priority,
definitions, and application requirements as absolute, competitive
preference, or invitational. The effect of each type of priority
follows:
Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority we consider only
applications that meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).
Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference
priority we give competitive preference to an application by either (1)
awarding additional points, depending on how well or the extent to
which the application meets the competitive priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting an application that meets the
competitive priority over an application of comparable merit that does
not meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority we are
particularly interested in applications that meet the invitational
priority. However, we do not give an application that meets the
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other
applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
Priority
Priority, Definitions, and Application Requirements--Model
Demonstration Projects--Positive Psychology
Under 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v) and section 303(b)(1) of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act), this priority supports
projects that test and measure the effects of three specific positive
psychology techniques for vocational rehabilitation (VR) professionals
for improving the quality of employment outcomes for individuals with
disabilities. The three positive psychology techniques identified are--
learned optimism, strengths and virtues versus talents for employment,
and subjective well-being (SWB). The models tested under this program
must incorporate effective, research-based positive psychology methods.
A. Definitions
Learned optimism teaches people to become more hopeful, realistic,
and flexible in their identification of and disputation of internal
beliefs that result in rigid, pessimistic, and negative outcome
expectations.
Strengths and virtues versus talents for employment is a
theoretical concept that links the internal characteristics of
individuals rather than specific functional skills or talents with
employment success.
Subjective well-being is a measurement of an individual's positive
view of himself or herself across a number of dimensions, including
optimism, life satisfaction, engagement, health, and sense of purpose.
B. General Requirements for Applicants
These model demonstration projects must focus on research-based
positive psychology principles that adapt appropriate techniques for VR
professionals to use to assist VR
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consumers served by State VR agencies or American Indian Vocational
Rehabilitation Services (AIVRS) projects to obtain meaningful
postsecondary education and employment outcomes. The projects must test
and measure the effects of all three techniques identified in this
priority on achieving meaningful postsecondary education and employment
outcomes. The projects must measure outcomes associated with each
required technique. An applicant must be specific about what data it
will collect in order to measure project outcomes against the
established goals.
To meet the requirements an applicant must--
(1) Describe the manner in which positive psychology strategies
will increase participation in postsecondary education and employment
outcomes for consumers served by State VR agencies or the AIVRS
projects;
(2) Adapt, test, and measure the impact of all three positive
psychology strategies identified in this priority on increasing the
level of optimism of consumers served by State VR agencies or the AIVRS
projects and investigate the relationship between learned optimism and
consumers' outcomes;
(3) Adapt and develop positive psychology assessment tools to
identify the strengths and virtues of individuals with disabilities,
identify specific job environments that match specific strengths and
virtues, pilot placement activities with individuals with disabilities
based on the fit of their strengths and virtues, and investigate the
relationship of consumers' strengths and virtues and meaningful
postsecondary education and employment outcomes;
(4) Develop positive psychology strategies to enhance SWB of people
with disabilities in the VR setting. Projects must investigate the
relationship between these strategies and meaningful postsecondary
education and employment outcomes;
(5) Design and implement an evaluation plan that--
(a) assesses the validity of the models tested and developed under
this project;
(b) includes use of objective performance measures that are clearly
related to the intended outcomes and goals of the project and will
produce quantitative and qualitative data to the extent possible; and
(c) provides performance feedback and permits periodic assessment
of progress toward achieving intended outcomes and goals; and
(6) Disseminate these strategies, as appropriate, to State VR
agencies and the AIVRS projects, their service providers, and
independent living centers funded by the Rehabilitation Services
Administration and other agencies and entities funded under the Act.
Intergovernmental Review
This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the
regulations in 34 CFR part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive
order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened
federalism. The Executive order relies on processes developed by State
and local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal
financial assistance.
This document provides early notification of our specific plans and
actions for this program.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 373.
Electronic Access to This Document
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Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
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Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html
.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.235, Special
Demonstration Programs--Model Demonstration Projects--Positive
Psychology)
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 773(b).
Dated: August 11, 2004.
Troy R. Justesen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 04-18630 Filed 8-12-04; 8:45 am]
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